The Most Shocking Moments of 'Game of Thrones'

Journey with us through the most memorable moments of the series.

By Wesley Baines

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com

Admit it—barely an episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones goes by without at least one moment that shocks you into a weeping, crumpled-up little heap on the floor. Author George R. R. Martin, the man who wrote the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series of fantasy novels upon which the show is based, has a special talent for brutal, unpredictable storytelling that leaves no character safe from harm, no matter how beloved they are.

In fact, it seems like the more beloved a Game of Thrones character becomes, the closer they come to the chopping block.

But Game of Thrones isn’t in the business of empty shock value. The most intense moments of the show are so shocking because they upend viewers’ expectations of how a story would normally play out. Bad things happen to good people, and often, the villains get exactly what they want because they refuse to play by the rules.

And sometimes, it’s hard to even tell who the heroes and the villains really are in this morally gray, complex fantasy world. It’s precisely this quality that leaves viewers with the sense that they’re not merely watching a show—they’re watching life unfold, with all of its imperfections and meaningless tragedies.

So, let’s celebrate one of the popular shows of all time by taking a look at some of its most deeply shocking moments.